The Lodge On Lake Oconee

The outdoor area and view were lovely, and the woman who greeted us was fantastic. But the problems in our room kept piling up. The toilet handle only worked if you held it just right, and the second AC unit in our family suite stopped cooling while blasting so much hot air that the room became unbearable. It wouldn’t turn off, so at 2 a.m. half our party had to move to another room, thankfully. The pullout bed’s sheets were wadded up in the drawer and hadn’t been washed, and the bed itself was worn out. It left us wondering how thoroughly the room had been cleaned. We were told breakfast started at 6 a.m., but when we came down, the lights were dim and there were no signs. Eventually someone at the counter said it would be late because the breakfast lady hadn’t arrived, and guessed she might be there around 7:30. We’d be gone by then, so paying extra for breakfast was frustrating. This place has some nice perks, but the problems outweighed them. The rooms need repairs, updates, or some real TLC.

Shelly at the front desk was a fantastic host, and the customer service there was great. We liked the spacious room layout, the bed, and the amenities, and could see the lake even from the end of the hallway. The building’s first-floor layout is convenient, and there’s plenty to do nearby. The room was nice enough that we decided to extend our stay. For a building that’s 20 years old, it’s in pretty good shape overall, and the rooms were fairly clean. There were still quite a few issues: the AC/heater filters and shower curtain liner were dirty, the tub stopper’s threads were stripped, and the shampoo, conditioner, and lotion had already been used. There was no shower soap, several bathroom floor tiles were cracked, and the mini fridge didn’t work. The TV was sitting on the dresser and should be mounted higher. The furniture has a distressed look. There was also no hot water in the breakfast room for tea or oatmeal. The TV channel selection was adequate.

The room and bathroom were immaculate, and hot water was readily available. I slept comfortably on the bed, which had four pillows. All the employees I met were friendly. Breakfast was included, with scrambled eggs, bacon, grits, breads and pastries, waffles, cereal, yogurt, several juices, and very good coffee.

We had a great time and will be back soon. My husband caught lots of fish in the lake while I relaxed with a book in the big game room. Our room was nice, and some rooms look out over the lake. Breakfast was good, too. There’s a large room overlooking the pool where you can read, relax, watch TV, or sit by the fireplace. They also have chairs and a fireplace by the lake.